PLANS to reduce Bank Holiday pay for police officers have been described as "another kick in the teeth".

The suggestion has come from the National Police Chiefs Council in a submission to the pay review body, and would see the 'away from home allowance' - which can be taken as double time or time off in lieu - removed from officers for all Bank Holidays, with the exception of Christmas Day and New Year's Day, and replaced with annual leave days.

The plans come as the national Police Federation has submitted a request for an increase in pay for all officers of 2.8 per cent.

Mike Stubbs, chairman of the North Yorkshire Police Federation, said: "This will be seen as another kick in the teeth by many officers, on top of all the other attacks on their pensions, pay and conditions of service.

"When you join the police you understand that working shifts and unsocial hours is part of the role, and that your family life will suffer. Public holidays are particularly significant for both religious and family reasons. All police officers want is to be fairly compensated when they have to work them, whilst they look after all those in the community who are able to enjoy those days."

The plans are also unpopular within the Superintendent’s Association, who have made a submission to the Police Remuneration Review Body, and stated that policing of large events on Bank Holidays was a controlled expenditure managed by forces.

The statement said: "There is a lack of clarity over what is being examined; compensation for duty on a Bank Holiday is not strictly overtime. Public holidays are treated differently to overtime because they are considered to cause even greater disruption.

"Forces and PCCs can, and should, recover costs for policing commercial and non-commercial events, especially those that are under-stewarded. It is not appropriate for officers to be penalised where this is not achieved. We believe it would be demoralising for officers, and could have a negative effect on the policing of events, if the compensation arrangements for policing particular events were changed because of concerns about cost, when other solutions are possible."